‘Listen more to civil society’, NGOs tell EU

A MAJOR non-governmental organisation has called for civil society groups to be more closely involved in EU decision-making.

European Voice

1/15/03, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 8:35 AM CET

The Social Platform has urged Greece, which currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency, to play a “leading role” in building a “more democratic” Europe.

In a letter to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, its president, Giampiero Alhadeff, said: “It is important that civil society organisations be given a clearer mandate in bridging the gap between citizens and institutions.”

The Social Platform, an association of more than 30 European NGOs, wants the Convention on the future of the EU to include an article in the constitutional treaty it is expected to draft committing the Union to closer cooperation with civil society.

“This should establish guidelines for the consistent consultation of civil society organisations by EU institutions within the policymaking processes.”

He added: “The Social Platform also calls on the Greek presidency to ensure that further measures are taken to integrate economic and social policies together with environmental policy.”

The group has also urged Greece to promote disability rights during 2003, which has been designated European Year of People with Disabilities.

The call has been echoed by the European Disability Forum and the Disability Intergroup which has successfully campaigned for an audit of facilities at the European Parliament in Brussels.

This will assess provisions for handicapped people, including everything from toilets and lifts to information services and staffing policy.